ABOUT BANGKOK

Religious Attractions

Wat Traimit (Golden Buddha)

The attraction at Wat Traimit is undoubtedly the impressive 3-meter-tall, 5.5-tonne, solid-gold Buddha image. Sculpted in the graceful Sukhothai style, the image was ‘discovered’ some 40 years ago beneath a stucco or plaster exterior, when it fell from a crane while being moved to a new building within the temple compound. It has been theorised that the covering was added to protect it from marauding hordes, either during the late Sukhothai period or later in the Ayuthaya period when the city was under siege by the Burmese. The temple itself is said to date from the early 13th century.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/religious/wat-traimit-golden-buddha#ixzz3bP8Qtf8O

Wat Pho

You’ll find (slightly) fewer tourists here than at Wat Phra Kaew, but Wat Pho is our personal five among Bangkok’s biggest temples. In fact, the compound incorporates a host of superlatives: the largest reclining Buddha, the largest collection of Buddha images in Thailand and the country’s earliest centre for public education. Almost too big for its shelter, the genuinely impressive Reclining Buddha, 46m long and 15m high, illustrates the passing of the Buddha into nirvana (The Buddha’s death). The figure is modelled out of plaster around a brick core and finished in gold leaf.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/religious/wat-ho#ixzz3bP8niJGh

Market, Street, and Shopping Center

Chatuchak Weekend Market

Among the largest markets in the world, Chatuchak seems to unite everything buyable, from used vintage sneakers to baby squirrels. Plan to spend a full day as there’s plenty to see, do and buy. But come early, ideally around 10am, to beat the crowds and the heat.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/shopping/markets-streets-arcades/chatuchak-weekend-market#ixzz3bPADAzSP

Thanon Sukhumvit Market

Leaving on the first flight out tomorrow morning? Never fear about gifts for those back home; here the street vendors will find you, with faux Fendi handbags, soccer kits, black-felt ‘art’, sunglasses and jewellery, to name a few. There are also ample stacks of nudie DVDs, Chinese throwing stars, penis-shaped lighters and other questionable gifts for your high school–aged brother.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/shopping/souvenirs-gifts/thanon-sukhumvit-market#ixzz3bPFHV4PS

MBK Centre

This intimidatingly immense shopping mall is quickly becoming one of Bangkok’s top attractions. Swedish and other languages can be heard as much as Thai, and on any given weekend half of Bangkok can be found here combing through an inexhaustible range of small stalls and shops. You can buy everything you need here: mobile phones, accessories, shoes, name brands, wallets, handbags and T-shirts.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/shopping/shopping-centre/mbk-center#ixzz3bPEd9ifX

Museum of Siam

This fun museum employs a variety of media to explore the origins of the Thai people and their culture. The exhibits are presented in an engaging, interactive fashion not often found in Thailand. Each room has an informative narrated video started by a sensory detector, keeping waiting to a minimum. An Ayuthaya-era battle game, a room full of traditional Thai toys and a street vending cart where you can be photographed pretending to whip up a pan of pàt tai (fried noodles) will help keep kids interested for at least an hour, adults for longer.

Read more:  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/museums-galleries/museum-siam

Park and Garden

Lumphini Park

Named after the Buddha’s place of birth in Nepal, Lumphini Park is the best way to escape Bangkok without leaving town. Shady paths, a large artificial lake and swept lawns temporarily blot out the roaring traffic and hulking concrete towers. There are paddleboats for lovers, playgrounds for the kids, open-air concerts on Sunday afternoon, and one of the best times to visit the park is before 7am when the air is fresh (well, relatively so for Bangkok) and legions of Thai-Chinese are practising taijiquan (t’ai chi). The park reawakens with the evening’s cooler temperatures – aerobics classes collectively sweat to a techno soundtrack.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thailand/bangkok/sights/parks-gardens/lumphini-park#ixzz3bPE3BRW7